page 248 note * A word is much wanted for this creature. Physical philosopher is unobjectionable, but too long. Philosopher, by itself, a word which has been used, is not only proved to be too wide, but, in the revival of philosophy proper which is taking place, will go near to be thought so shortly. Physician has irrevocably lost its original sense; and so has naturalist. Physicist is coming into use: it was a word invented in Pandemonium as a salute to Satan when he returned from his inquiry into nature, undertaken with a view of creating confusion by the introduction of his own notions; and Milton has made the natural mistake of supposing that he was hissed. One good distinctive word is empiric, follower of experience; but the physician has appropriated it to medical practitioners who are, rightly or wrongly, wise above what is written. But pirastic would do very well; and would prevent the experimentalist from carrying about a collar of SS.

page 249 note * I suppose that such a formula as (1–rA): (1 + r) must needs present all digits equally in the long run, there being no law in the values of A as to digits. But no such thing is to be inferred of numbers which are not accidentally arranged. In Mr. Shanks's ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, or 4(1-⅓+⅕-1/7+…), to 608 figures, the nine digits and cipher occur as follows:—

The exceptional character of the 7 is remarkable.